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Registered Member #96
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061
Hi all. Just had an idea that could help the fusion guys. Seems that one problem with fusors is that grid collisions sap energy.
What about using a holographic grid, along the same lines as a holographic lens for light? Essentially instead of two grids there would only be a single cylindrical outer grid and a central point collector. The outer grid would be constructed with interference patterns via tiny holes computer calculated to imitate the correct structure for multipaction without an inner grid being needed.
The main advantage of this method would be continuous ion recirculation aka "star" mode without that annoying grid heating.
Registered Member #3414
Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245
It's not only grid collisions that 'sap' energy.
Collisions between ions that don't result in fusion also sap energy (google 'fusion cross-section'), resulting in slow moving ions. collisions between these and fast moving ions sap further energy. you also get a lot of neutrals, as ions combine with electrons from the negative grid, and collisions between fast ions and neutrals sap even more energy.
You can compensate by increasing current (increasing the number of fast ions), the relationship between fusion 'events' and current is exponential (actually (I^2)/2, if I remember correctly,) but other factors also apply. The main limiting factor is heating of the grids, as it is difficult to cool them. Some attempts have been made using 'fluoro-inerts' as a coolant, and pumping this through hollow grids.
Have you read Dr Robert Bussard's work on 'virtual grids' in his 'Polywell' design? This uses magnetic fields instead of electrostatics.
Registered Member #96
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061
Yeah, the polywell seems like a good system. I seem to recall that the problem there was generating a sufficiently powerful field in the coils without burning them out. Wonder if anyone has attempted to use superconducting wire on a polywell yet? -A
Registered Member #3414
Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245
"Per G. Harry Stine’s axiom that the tests are not over until the prototype is destroyed, WB-2 blew a coil when we pushed it to about 4.5 kilovolts and a couple of kilogauss."
They tested everything to destruction.
From memory, they got up to about WB-7 before Dr Bussard died, but research was carried on by EMC2. I seem to remember some talk about WB-8. Tom Ligon is no longer involved, though. (He worked for Bussard, primarily as a publicist - He's a Sci-Fi author)
Superconductors would certainly help, but the main problem is still harnessing the energy from all the Alpha's produced from proton-Boron 11 fusion.
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Fusor improvement idea
